On June 4, 2025, President Trump issued two separate proclamations limiting visa issuance and travel to the United States for the nationals of 19 countries.

Long anticipated, the full suspension of entry and travel ban affects both immigrant and nonimmigrant visa issuance to 19 countries, including Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatoria Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The travel ban applies unless individual applicants qualify for an exception, as outlined below.

The rationale for the travel ban for these specific countries as stated by the President, included whether a country has a significant terrorist presence in its territory, its visa-overstay rate, and its cooperation with accepting back removable nationals.

For the countries of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela, the Presidential Proclamation specifically directs consular officials to reduce visa validity in the B-1, B-2, F, M and J visa classifications, to the extent ‘permitted by law’. The way consular officials will carry out the Order remains unclear. This constitutes a partial suspension of entry to the United States, subject to the exceptions listed below.

The proclamation applies specifically to nationals of the above-mentioned countries who:

•  Are physically outside the United States as of  June 9, 2025; and
•  Do not have a valid visa as of  June 9, 2025.

Who is not affected by the Travel Ban from these countries?

Any person located in the United States who has been granted asylum, or any refugee already admitted to the United States, or anyone granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) is exempt from the travel ban. While the order does not limit individuals from applying for these benefits, it is unclear how prospective refugees, located outside the United States could avail themselves of these benefits.

What are Next Steps in the Harvard University Travel Ban? 

The Harvard University ban will likely be challenged in federal court, the Executive Order affecting new students entering Harvard in F1 student status, M vocational studies or other non-academic study and J-1 researchers, doctors, interns, trainees and others will be effective on June 9^th for a six-month period. Not addressed in the Executive Order was any directive regarding the admission of Harvard students already in possession of valid visas.

The Executive Order also indicated that a periodic review of the list of the travel ban countries would be assessed for purposes of modification, suspension, or consideration of additional countries to be added to the ban.  The proclamation further instructed the Secretary of State to provide a review of Egypt – a country not currently on any travel ban list – to assess whether any consideration to travel restrictions should be added for Egyptian nationals.

People who are exempt from the travel ban include:

• U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders).
• Dual nationals of a country designated in the proclamation when the individual travels on a passport issued by a non-designated country.
• Individuals applying for immediate relative status (IR-1/CR-1, IR-2/CR-2, IR-5) with clear evidence of identity and family relationship (i.e. DNA).
• Any athlete or member of an athletic team, including coaches, those performing support roles and their immediate relatives, traveling for the World Cup, Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the Secretary of State.
• Any foreign national traveling with valid nonimmigrant visa in the following diplomatic-related classifications –
• A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1, NATO-2, NATO-3, NATO-4, NATO-5 or NATO-6 (generally diplomatic or NATO related visas).
• Special visa applications related to adoption (IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, IH-4), Afghan Special Immigrant Visas; Special Immigrant Visas for United States government employees; and immigrant visas for ethnic and religious minorities facing persecution in Iran.
• Those traveling to the United States are deemed to advance a critical U.S. national interest involving the Department of Justice as determined by the Attorney General, in coordination with the Secretaries of State and Secretary of Homeland Security.

Historic Context into President’s Trump’s Executive Order
 

Shortly after his inauguration in 2017, President Trump issued a widely contested travel ban which was challenged in federal courts for the duration of his first administration. With the onset of COVID, additional travel bans with ‘national interest exceptions’ (NIE) filed for citizens of all countries globally. The travel ban concept, with the threat of additional countries that could be added in the future, has proven to be an effective tool for the administration to control immigration to the United States for nationals of those countries that it perceives as threatening to national security.

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The Business & Corporate Immigration Practice at Tarter Krinsky & Drogin is following updates all immigration programs. Please reach out to a member of our team with any questions or to discuss how changes can impact your business.